Role

:

Performer

Birth

:

August 14, 1926 in Eve, MO

Death

:

September 21, 2007 in Studio City, CA

Genre

:

Film

 

 

Orchestral

 

Alice Ghostley was an American actress and singer who was born on August 14, 1923, in Eve, Missouri. She was the youngest of three children born to Harry and Edna Ghostley. Her father was a telegraph operator, and her mother was a homemaker. Ghostley grew up in Henryetta, Oklahoma, where she attended Henryetta High School. Ghostley's interest in music began at an early age. She started taking piano lessons when she was six years old and later learned to play the organ. She also sang in the church choir and performed in school plays. After graduating from high school, Ghostley attended the University of Oklahoma, where she studied music and drama. In 1946, Ghostley moved to New York City to pursue a career in show business. She made her Broadway debut in the musical "Shady Lady" in 1955. She went on to appear in several other Broadway productions, including "The Beauty Part" and "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window." Ghostley's big break came in 1964 when she was cast as the flighty Esmeralda in the Broadway production of "The Owl and the Pussycat." Her performance earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She went on to win the award in 1965 for her role in "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window." In addition to her work on Broadway, Ghostley also appeared in several films and television shows. She made her film debut in the 1953 comedy "The Farmer Takes a Wife." She went on to appear in several other films, including "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "The Graduate." Ghostley's television career began in the 1950s with appearances on shows like "The Phil Silvers Show" and "The Jackie Gleason Show." She went on to become a regular on several television series, including "Bewitched," "Mayberry R.F.D.," and "Designing Women." She also made guest appearances on shows like "The Twilight Zone" and "The Love Boat." Despite her success as an actress, Ghostley never lost her love for music. She continued to perform in musicals throughout her career, including a 1973 revival of "Hello, Dolly!" and a 1981 production of "The Pirates of Penzance." She also recorded several albums, including "Alice Ghostley Sings for Children" and "With Love, From Alice." Ghostley's talent and hard work were recognized with several awards and honors throughout her career. In addition to her Tony Award, she also won an Emmy Award for her role on "Designing Women." She was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1998. Ghostley continued to work in show business until her death on September 21, 2007, at the age of 84. She left behind a legacy of memorable performances and a love for music that inspired generations of performers.

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